BY-LAWS OF THE ESSO GROTTO

2002/2003

(all other versions superseded)

  1. MEMBERSHIP in the Grotto shall be as follows:

  A. REGULAR MEMBER shall be adult, eighteen or over, desiring membership and paying full dues.

  B. FAMILY DEPENDENT shall be any family member of a regular member desiring membership and paying discounted dues; no voting rights in this category.

  2. DUES shall be payable at the October meeting with a grace period of three months.  Dues for new members coming in during the year shall be pro-rated.  Family dependent dues shall be for each family member in addition to the regular dues of the sponsoring member and shall be at a discounted rate.  Changes in dues owed shall be by majority vote of those present or submitting proxies.  Proposed changes in amount of dues shall be presented by motion/petition/resolution at a previous meeting (one month prior) and the membership shall be notified by publication in the newsletter (Bee) one month prior to the meeting at which the vote is taken.

  3. AMENDMENTS to the by-laws shall be by majority vote of those present or submitting proxies.  The amendment(s) shall be presented at a previous meeting and the membership shall be notified by mail prior to the meeting at which the vote is taken. 

A member unable to attend a meeting and who desires to cast a vote on any item of business shall provide written designation of proxy to the Secretary prior to the opening of the meeting.

4. OFFICERS shall include a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.  Election of new officers for the coming year shall be held at the December meeting.  The nominating committee shall be appointed by the President at the October meeting.  The committee shall present its nominations to the membership at the November meeting and additional nominations from the floor shall be taken a that time and/or at the December meeting.  All officers shall also be deemed directors upon election.

5. DUTIES OF OFFICERS: In addition to the conventional duties of the respective officers the following special duties shall be required:

A. The President shall arrange meeting sites and inform the membership individually    of the arrangements.  He shall also appoint an Editor of the newsletter and webmaster as needed.

        B. The Vice-President shall be the Program Chairman.

6. STANDING COMMITTEES should be: 

1) Trip Coordinator 

2) Safety

 3) Training

 4) Conservation  

The president may create additional committees at his/her discretion.

  7. REGULAR MEETINGS shall be held the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.  Meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, a copy of which the Secretary shall have present for use at meetings.

  8. GROTTO TRIPS: All announced Grotto trips shall be published in the newsletter (Bee).

  9. ESSO GROTTO has established itself as a family oriented organization and as such does not endorse or tolerate the use of drugs or alcohol at any Grotto sponsored activity.